Bradley Beal missed 18 games before the stress injury to his right fibula that ultimately ended a promising rookie campaign. It was only natural for Beal to become impatient at times with ankle injuries that hampered him all season.

But in the end, Beal's rush to come back forced him to compensate for old injuries, an approach that caught up with him Tuesday in his Washington Wizards' 90-86 win over the Chicago Bulls. Beal admitted that playing through both ankle injuries spelled the end of his season.

Washington Wizards rookie Bradley Beal admitted he shouldn't have played through two bad ankles. (AP Photo)

Beal played in 56 games and put together a solid rookie effort, maintaining averages of 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He also shot 38.6 percent from the 3-point line, and, in the little time they played together, helped spread the floor and open driving lanes for dynamic point guard John Wall.

The pair won't play together for the rest of the season, as Beal cannot participate in basketball activities for six weeks. Despite those stipulations, Beal still walks on a straight line, showing no signs of major injury.

"I was glad that it was nothing too serious but I'm still upset by the fact that I can't play. ... I had a feeling it really wasn't my ankle," Beal said. "It ended up being my fibula, but I'm glad its a stress reaction rather than a fracture or possibly broken.

"It's nothing too painful. I can walk around, as long as I'm not running or jumping."

Beal has not had much experience with injury in his short basketball career. He played one season at Florida and starred in all 37 games. By the time his first NBA season is done, Beal will have missed 26 games.

"I think I knew because it's been heckling me all year," he said. "That was the worst it ever felt honestly, and there was no point in me continuing to pound it and pound it and making it worse."